SAN DIEGO COUNTY DIGEST

San Diego

Robbery detectives are investigating the Thursday night hold-up attempt of a Southeast San Diego taco shop in which two employees were shot and injured critically.

About 8:30 p.m., police arrived at the La Fiesta Taco Shop in the 1100 block of South 43rd Street and found employees Jose Alvarado, 30, and Jaime Barranga, 21, lying wounded inside, a police spokesman said. Alvarado had been shot in the side and abdomen, while Barranga had suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Police said the weapon apparently was a small-caliber handgun.

Because of the condition of the two men, police were unable to get a detailed description of their attacker. Witnesses reported seeing a young man running from the scene shortly after the shots were fired. Police said the assailant apparently did not get any money.

Both shooting victims were admitted to Mercy Hospital in critical condition. Barranga's condition had been upgraded to serious by Friday afternoon.